Ogier: “It’s commitment that makes the difference in Finland”

Sébastien Ogier will have to defend its place as leader of the WRC this weekend at Rally de Finlande où il ne s’est imposé qu’en 2013. Le pilote M-Sport est sous pression puisque Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) est parvenu à revenir à 11 points du quadruple champion du monde avant l’épreuve des 1000 Lacs.

“It’s both a difficult and exciting rally. It's like a roller coaster with its high speeds and big jumps. To win, you have to be in harmony with your car to be able to attack from start to finish. It’s the commitment that makes the difference.”, comments Sébastien Ogier in an interview given to Red Bull.

Sébastien Ogier prepared by carrying out a test session last week near Vaheri.

“I really enjoyed the tests in Finland, even more than in the past. This new car is truly superb to drive on this terrain. I've never driven so fast here, underlined Sébastien Ogier. I am aware of having difficulties on certain weekends. These tests in Finland were useful because we still found a few things to go faster. The Championship requires being strategic from the start to the end of the season. »

Sébastien Ogier must find the right rhythm between the fight for victory and securing points. The M-Sport driver has only scored two victories in Monte-Carlo and Portugal this year, while his direct rival Thierry Neuville has won three times.

“The season has been satisfactory so far because we are leading the Championship and we have the opportunity to retain our title. The key is to have consistent results because the competition is very competitive. Every driver has the opportunity to win, including Ott (Thank you) who earned his first victory this year (at the Sardinia Rally). Jari-Matti is also close », specified Sébastien Ogier.

With Sébastien Ogier only having a one-year contract, the Frenchman admits he is exploring different options for 2018.

“It’s still early to talk about it. I like stability and M-Sport represents an interesting option for next year, but it's no secret that the support of a manufacturer is important. I don’t think I’ll leave rallying anytime soon because it’s in this discipline where I perform the best.”he said.